Occupy Denver Prepares For May Day 'General Strike', Releases Full Schedule Of Events [VIDEO, FULL OWS LIVEBLOG]

Occupy Wall Street activists are preparing for a nationwide series of demonstrations and are calling for a "general strike" on Tuesday, May 1st--also known as "May Day" or "International Workers' Day"--and Occupy Denver has just released its own schedule of events for the day of protest in Denver. The demonstrations could wind up being the largest seen from the OWS activists in 2012.

Beginning at 12:00 p.m. and continuing on through 9:30 p.m., the Denver occupiers have rolling teach-ins, rallies, marches, live music, performance art, spoken word poetry and much more throughout the day at Civic Center Park.

In a press statement, Occupy Denver said this about the importance of May Day:

Now is the time for community, neighborhood, school and work groups to organize autonomous and direct actions. As long as we are attacked and deprived of our basic rights, we will not allow for business as usual. We will support independent efforts of people to claim control over their workplaces, schools, and community as the beginning stages of our journey towards reclaiming our lives and taking the power back.

May Day will be the beginning of a new chapter of struggle for justice and equality. As we occupy our streets, workplaces, neighborhoods, and other common spaces, we start to build a new world within the shell of this old world of injustice and inequality. Let May 1st be the beginning of a new chapter that has yet to be written.

As the recession has deepened, wealth and power have been funneled into the hands of the few. We can no longer afford the rich and powerful or tolerate this system that creates them at our expense. Police, militaries, immigration enforcement, and corporate banks have attacked our communities and movements. We can no longer survive without control over our lives and our society. We will not be silenced. The time has come to show those in power that our demands for equality and justice must be met.

May Day is a national holiday in many countries around the world and is typically celebrated with marches and street demonstrations by working people, according to Mother Jones, but has not been as widely observed in the United States.

Occupy organizers are hoping that May Day could be a reboot for the movement. Marissa Holmes, an Occupy Wall Street organizer, spoke with Mother Jones saying, "May Day will be the big kickoff of Phase 2 of Occupy. I think we'll see a lot of people in the streets taking more militant actions than they had in the past."

The May Day general strike in Denver has the endorsement of more than a dozen organizations in Denver and Colorado including The Denver Handmade Homemade Market, Colorado Progressive Coalition, Clean Slate Now, CPUSA, Colorado Anti-Violence and more. Denver's Mercury Cafe will be closing its doors in support and celebration of the general strike on May 1st.

Organizations that are interested in participating in May Day and want to support the event in some way are encouraged to fill out a "Statement of Support" which can be obtained here via OccupyDenver.org.

live blog

Twenty-five people were arrested on May 1 during the Occupy Oakland demonstrations, the City of Oakland reported. Although a complete breakdown of the arrests is not currently available, at least one person was detained for assaulting a police officer. Two others face felony arson arrests (one of the suspected arsonists allegedly set a police vehicle on fire).

Incidents of vandalism were reported at three banks. The windows of an Oakland Police Department van were broken and the tires of one news media vehicle were also punctured.

Public Works crews are now trying to clean up the damage and restore the city before daybreak.

As thousands of people streamed down Broadway into Lower Manhattan, they faced a choice: go home to their apartments or stick around to see what happened next. Many -- including almost all the union members and immigrant rights' activists, it seemed -- chose the former. The younger demonstrators who remained, many of them clad in black, headed to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza.

By 9 p.m., perhaps a thousand protesters were gathered in the small park. "This park officially closes at 10 p.m. Some of us will stay here indefinitely," one speaker announced over the human microphone. The goal was nothing short of re-occupation.

As the hour wore on, people sat and chatted and something of a General Assembly occurred. (Occupy Wall Street hasn't had one of those gatherings since March.) Shortly after 10 p.m., a police officer on a bullhorn announced that anyone who stayed would be arrested. Most of those assembled complied with police orders. A few -- reportedly from Veterans for Peace and Occupy Faith -- stayed on, willing to be arrested.

Hundreds streamed into the night, some getting on subway trains and others engaging in a cat-and-mouse game with the police through the Financial District's narrow streets. The Huffington Post witnessed several arrestees loaded into a police van at Hanover Square, including one of a man wearing an Oakland Athletic's baseball cap.

By the end, a few hundred protesters gathered in Zuccotti Park to wind down a successful day's gathering and relive old times. In the city host to the A's, meanwhile, the night was only getting started.

Business Week reports that the men charged with plotting to blow up a bridge had only vague associations with Occupy Cleveland. Although they had attended Occupy events in the past, FBI spokesperson Vicki Anderson told the publication that there was no link between the alleged bomb conspiracy and the Occupy group.

"This was not an Occupy movement plot," she said. "They were individuals that formed their own group to conspire."

The men allegedly felt that the Occupy movement didn't go far enough and were considering a hospital or a cargo ship as possible targets.

USA Today reported: "What sets the alleged Ohio operation apart is its link to self-proclaimed anarchists -- with no connections to international terrorist organizations -- who believed that members of the ubiquitous Occupy protest movement had not gone far enough to express their displeasure with high-flying corporate America."

The former Lakewood resident was arrested a few times as a juvenile — including a September 2009 incident when he was arrested for allegedly stabbing a family member with a knife. Lakewood police charged him with aggravated attempted murder, but the outcome of the case is not available as juvenile court records were sealed. As an adult, Baxter -- whom acquaintances told Patch was intelligent, quiet and strange -- was charged with criminal trespassing in 2010, stemming from an incident at Lakewood Park.

Anthony Hayne

With a criminal history that stretches back to 2000, Hayne's record is littered with charges of theft, drugs and receiving stolen property. Hayne was most recently found guilty of breaking and entering in November 2011. In that case, he was sentenced to probation.

Joshua Stafford

In August 2010, Stafford pleaded guilty to charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor; giving false information to a police officer; and possession of drug paraphernalia. In Lorain County, he also was charged with criminal trespassing, theft and receiving stolen property and attempted breaking and entering.

Occupy Miami blames police for the arrest of 3 May Day protestors, including a live-streamer accused of assaulting an officer. In a statement, the group said police prompted a skirmish by becoming overly agressive while providing what an Miami Police Department incident report termed "safe escort":

Miami police escalated what was a peaceful protest by pulling three individuals out of the crowd of 100 in front of the Wells Fargo and beating them with fists and batons. They also punched our live stream media in the face and nearly broke his phone...

While the protestors had not instigated any problems the police and been escalating the action towards violence for most of the march by running cars and bicycles into the peaceful marchers.

Occupiers are now holding a candlelight vigil outside the jail to protest the arrests. Get the full story, at HuffPost Miami.

Police appear to be ready to make a move against the protesters at 55 Water street. The NYCLU reports: "NYPD on bullhorn saying that park is closed, you will have few minutes to leave, if you refuse you will be arrested."

Reporter Matt Sledge says that "Police lining up around edge of Vietnam vets, speaker says 'know that this decision is your own.'"

Hundreds of protesters flooded the streets of San Francisco and Oakland on Tuesday as part of the nationwide May Day general strike organized largely by Occupy Wall Street.

In Oakland, a crowd marched down Broadway at noon, closing the thoroughfare to downtown traffic. But protesters quickly clashed with police.

The situation escalated when officers attempted to lead a patrol wagon onto the scene to make arrests. Protesters surrounded the vehicle, prompting police to deploy tear gas and flash bang grenades to disperse the crowd. Officers made several arrests, and Occupy Oakland organizer Boots Riley tweeted that one woman was sent to the hospital for a head injury allegedly inflicted by authorities.

Thousands of protesters at 55 Water St in downtown NYC. Live stream reporter Tim Pool says that, according to multiple sources, protesters will attempt to reoccupy downtown, "and this is the site of the new occupation."

In New York City, the march has reached the Financial District -- but it apparently won't be going onto Wall Street itself. Stefan Ringel, a spokesman for New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams, relayed to HuffPost that "Wall Street is completely blocked, with two to three lines (of officers)."

Mounted police are also keeping an eye on the scene, and perched on the corner, according to Ringel: NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne himself.

A spokesperson for Sergeant Ed Mullins, president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association in New York City, sent out an email on Monday saying the sergeant would be "available to speak about tomorrow’s protest and the effect of OWS protesters getting involved during May Day."

The Huffington Post took the bait: In the sergeant's opinion, what were the potential effects of OWS protestors getting involved during May Day?

"The truth of it is it really doesn't matter," said Mullins, a member of the New York City police force for over 30 years. "They're gonna get involved in a protest, big deal. If you don't pay attention to them it won't be an issue. This is a group that stays around and protests and protests and protests and I don't know why we keep paying attention to them.

Mullins was asked if he objected to protests on principle.

"This country has been based on protests," he said. "Everybody wants better wages, we all do."

So why did he suggest ignoring Occupy Wall Street?

"The Occupy Wall Street people in my opinion serve no purpose other than disrupting society in terms of disrupting pedestrian traffic, causing injuries and generating arrests and spending millions of dollars in taxpayers money," Mullins said.

"What was the point of that protest?" he asked, referring to the Zuccotti Park encampment and the other high-profile demonstrations of the fall.

It was suggested that the point was to raise awareness of the growing inequality between rich and poor, among other things.

After a slow start Tuesday morning, Occupy Wall Street successfully massed thousands of people under sunny weather in New York's Union Square Park. By 6 p.m. ET, they were streaming in the thousands down Broadway for a permitted march to the Financial District. A full range of the groups Occupy has brought under its umbrella, from labor unions to immigrant workers' groups to anarchists, was on display.

At the head of the march: a cabbie named Beresford Simmons.

"I'm an independent contractor," he said. "To take a day just to do this, I'm really losing a lot of money. Anything for the workers."

Simmons and other members of the Taxi Workers Alliance had affixed signs demanding disability insurance for their colleagues. Simmons' poster, however, was a little more simple: "Union Power."

Behind him, the march snaked down Broadway for more than a dozen blocks. A wild assortment of protesters from bike brigades to "Tax Dodgers" in baseball uniforms, fronted by a cheerleader with a "Loopholes" hula hoop, made the street come alive like a carnival.

At the rear of the procession, Alejandra Ospina was shuttling down Broadway in her wheelchair. A member of Occupy Wall Street's disability caucus, she is concerned that if the economy doesn't improve, there will be more cuts to the Medicare and Medicaid that people like her partner rely on.

Joe Moller, executive director of Downtown LA Artwalk, found himself one block away from the May Day action. Moller walked out of his office and spent some time taking pictures of the protesters who had gathered below his building. He told HuffPost, "Regardless of which side of the percentage sign you land on, experiencing the political action of these groups is impressive and important. Everyone should be paying attention."

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Signs Of Occupy Denver

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DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 27: Early morning traffic passes the Colorado state capitol building and the 'Occupy Denver' camp at dawn on October 27, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Demonstrators have continued their protest, now more than a month old, despite a winter snowstorm and nighttime temperatures in the 20s. Several of them have been treated for hypothermia. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 26: A snow-dusted protest sign sits under a tree at the 'Occupy Denver' camp on October 26, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Some 25 protesters slept at the camp overnight as a winter snow storm moved in, and several demonstrators have been taken to the hospital for hypothermia. Despite the severe weather, protesters have vowed to continue their demonstration, now more than a month old. The heavy snowstorm hit Denver and the Rocky's front range after record high temperatures in the 80's earlier in the week. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 27: A protest sign lies covered in frost at the 'Occupy Denver' camp on October 27, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Demonstrators have continued their protest, now more than a month old, despite a winter snowstorm and nighttime temperatures in the 20s. Several of them have been treated for hypothermia. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 29: Protesters walk past the Colorado state capital building during an 'Occupy Denver' march on October 29, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Some 1,000 people took part in the march in solidarity with other 'occupy' movements around the country. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 29: Protesters chant slogans during an 'Occupy Denver' march through downtown on October 29, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Some 1,000 people took part in the march in solidarity with other 'occupy' movements around the country. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 29: Protesters chant anti-bank slogans during an 'Occupy Denver' march on October 29, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Some 1,000 people took part in the march in solidarity with other 'occupy' movements around the country. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 29: Protesters chant anti-bank slogans during an 'Occupy Denver' march on October 29, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Some 1,000 people took part in the march in solidarity with other 'occupy' movements around the country. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 29: Policemen in riot gear face off with demonstrators at the 'Occupy Denver' camp on October 29, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Following a march by protesters, police tried to tear down some newly-erected tents at the encampment and scuffled with demonstrators. Police detained about a half dozen people, pepper-sprayed others and reportedly fired rubber bullets at the crowd during the melee. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 05: An Occupy Denver demonstrator holds a protest sign at a Chase bank branch on November 5, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Hundreds of demonstrators marched in a peaceful protest, denouncing the Federal Reserve and urging customers to close their accounts with large banks and deposit their funds into local credit unions. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 05: People play chess as Occupy Denver protesters march past the Denver Federal Reserve building on November 5, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Hundreds of demonstrators marched in a peaceful protest, denouncing the Federal Reserve and urging customers to close their accounts with large banks and deposit their funds into local credit unions. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 05: Occupy Denver protesters walk past the U.S. Federal Reserve building on November 5, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Hundreds of demonstrators marched through downtown Denver, denouncing the Federal Reserve and urging customers to close their accounts with large banks and deposit their funds into local credit unions. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Members of Occupy Denver and the Colorado Progressive Coalition protest outside of the Wells Fargo Performing Arts Center in Denver where US Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Donahue was speaking at the Colorado Chamber of Commerce's annual luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Occupy Denver protester Claudia Livingston, 63, of Westminster, Colo., chants with others at a rally at Denver's City and County Building, on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Britte Notzold and her daughter Ida, 1, joined Occupy Denver protesters at a rally at Denver's City and County Building , on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Occupy Denver protesters Roshan Bliss, left, and Neal Brown kneel on the steps of Denver's City and County Building with their hands bound and their mouths gagged during a rally on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)